November, 2013 - Orthodox Christian Laity

Monthly Archives: November, 2013

Pope’s message to Ecumenical Patriarch

By Webmaster on November 30, 2013 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories

Source: Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Franics has sent a Message to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His Holiness, Bartholomew I, to mark the feast of the Patron of the Church at Constantinople, St. Andrew the Apostle. Common concern for the plight of Christians in many parts of the world, and especially in the Middle East, was a central focus of the Holy Father’s reflections. Below, please find the official English text of the Message. ****************************************** To His Holiness Bartholomaios I Archbishop of Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarch “Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and…

Letter from OCL President, Susan Haikalis – Year in Review

By Webmaster on November 30, 2013 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity, Uncategorized

November 30, 2013 Christmas Lenten Season Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: We are very happy to report that because of your most generous response to our recent Angel Fund Drive along with this year’s membership outreach in March and special gifts by board members and friends, OCL has been able to maintain its website, manage its administrative expenses and present an outstanding 26th Annual Meeting and Program. Your prayers and financial support were critical! We hope that the two Informational programs developed and presented this year on the work of The Assembly of Bishops will be replicated across the…

Bartholomew trusts Francis’ visit to Jerusalem will herald a new season of ecumenical dialogue

By Webmaster on November 30, 2013 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: Vatican Insider The Ecumenical Patriarch has high expectations of Francis’ visit to the Holy Land and is relying on the Pope to contribute to the start of a “decisive” new season for ecumenism GIANNI VALENTE ROME Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I’s messages to Rome on the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, were clear: the 264th successor of the 1st Apostle, expressed the hope that Pope Francis’ pontificate would bring “renewed inspiration” to the common journey of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches toward full communion. The meeting between the two religious leaders in Jerusalem expected to take place next spring will be…

The role of Orthodoxy in the Russian Constitution: the proposal raises controversy and fears

By Webmaster on November 29, 2013 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories, Uncategorized

Source: Asia News by Nina Achmatova The idea is to amend the Charter to enter Christianity as “the foundation of national identity and cultural heritage of Russia.” The Patriarchate supports the initiative , but calls will be addressed in a public debate . Defending human rights warns it is likely to raise a “civil war” in the minds of people. Moscow (AsiaNews) – The proposal of some lawmakers to amend the Constitution to insert, in its preamble, the exclusive role of the Orthodox Church in Russia has generated heated debate in a multi-religious country where issues related to the coexistence…

Sir John Tavener: Hundreds attend composer’s funeral

By Webmaster on November 28, 2013 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: BBC [See video at the end of the story on the BBC website] Hundreds have attended the funeral of composer Sir John Tavener, which has taken place at Winchester Cathedral. His wife and three children led mourners at the Greek Orthodox service, while a representative of the Prince of Wales was among the congregation. Several of Sir John’s spiritual works were played at the service, with accompaniment of the cathedral’s choir. The 69-year-old, whose music has topped the classical charts, died earlier this month after long-term health problems. In 1997, Sir John’s piece Song for Athene was performed at…

Thanksgiving Is About Liberty

By Webmaster on November 27, 2013 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: The Wall Street Journal By Elliot Jager Americans should give thanks for a political culture that cherishes liberty and to their forebears, who came to these shores in search of religious freedom, writes Myron Magnet in The Wall Street Journal. Magnet, who has authored books on history and social policy and was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President George W. Bush, recalled that since 1621, when the Puritans came to the New World in search of religious freedom, waves of pilgrims in quest of liberty have followed them to these shores. It once was illegal under British law for…

A Thanksgiving Prayer – “In Everything, Give Thanks”

By Webmaster on November 27, 2013 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

“In Everything, Give Thanks” 1 Thesssalonians 5:16-18 A Thanksgiving Prayer Let us thank God: For the OPPOSITIONS we have had to meet, the RESISTANCE that has caused us to manifest our faith in practical ways; For the DISPUTES which have compelled us to reexamine our thoughts and eliminate the flaws; For the STUGGLES which have caused us to spiritually mature, together with the DEFEATS which have kept us humble; For the RISKS we have taken which have revealed our inner strengths; For some of the ENEMIES we have made, for to have no enemies…

Doctors and Medical Personnel Needed for OCMC Health Care Missions in 2014

By Webmaster on November 26, 2013 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: Orthodox Christian Mission Center Help care for the physical and spiritual needs of people in Tanzania in Kenya by serving on an OCMC Medical Mission Team in 2014. Doctors and Medical Personnel Needed for OCMC Health Care Missions in 2014 by Andrew Lekos (11/22/2013)The Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) will be offering numerous Health Care Mission Team opportunities in 2014 to East Africa. OCMC is seeking doctors and medical personnel to participate on these teams and minister to the physical and spiritual needs of people in East Africa. While health care has improved over the last two decades, many…

Pope Francis ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ Calls for Renewal of Roman Catholic Church, Attacks ‘Idolatry of Money’ – Says can Learn Synodality from Orthodox

By Webmaster on November 26, 2013 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: Huffington Post By Naomi O’Leary (Reuters) – Pope Francis called for renewal of the Roman Catholic Church and attacked unfettered capitalism as “a new tyranny”, urging global leaders to fight poverty and growing inequality in the first major work he has authored alone as pontiff. The 84-page document, known as an apostolic exhortation, amounted to an official platform for his papacy, building on views he has aired in sermons and remarks since he became the first non-European pontiff in 1,300 years in March. In it, Francis went further than previous comments criticizing the global economic system, attacking the “idolatry…

OVER 60 CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES DESTROYED IN SYRIA

By Webmaster on November 25, 2013 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: Pravoslavie.ru Moscow – Militants in Syria have destroyed over 60 Christian churches and monasteries, and more than 70 thousand Orthodox residents of Homs, and more than a half the Christians of Aleppo have left their homes, reports Interfax. These statistics was given by the ambassador of Syria to Russia Riad Haddad at the meeting of the inter-factional deputy group in defense of Christian values, held by the State Duma in Moscow. According to R. Haddad, in recent days the Damascus quarters of Kasaa and Bab Touma, both inhabited mainly, by Christians, have been subjected to regular bombardments by the terrorists:…

Founders of Faith Host Dinner: Emphasis on Orthodoxy, Hellenism

By Webmaster on November 25, 2013 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories, Uncategorized

Source: The National Herald by Constantine S. Sirigos NEW YORK – The annual Founders Dinner of Faith: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism filled the second story dining room of the famed Le Cirque restaurant in Manhattan on November 19 with enthusiastic members and friends of the philanthropic organization that was established as a response to a challenge issued by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios in 2004. The guests were welcomed by Peggy Sotirhos Nicholson, Faith’s Executive Director, and Archbishop Demetrios offered the opening prayer. Sotirhos introduced Michael Jaharis, businessman, philanthropist, and Vice Chair, who hosted the event with his wife,…

Information on Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response now available

By Webmaster on November 22, 2013 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] At their Fall 2013 meeting, members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America approved and issued a revised Policy, Standards, and Procedures on Sexual Misconductwith the goal of providing a safe and healthy environment for all of the faithful. A new page featuring detailed information and resources is now available on the OCA web site athttp://oca.org/about/sexual-misconduct. Among the accessible resources are Policies, Standards, and Procedures of the Orthodox Church in America on Sexual Misconduct, a Summary and checklist of responsibilities and procedures, and Annual Parish Compliance Report forms. The site also offers…

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Monthly Archives: November, 2013